Our Industry  

Traditional print products are being complemented by digital products, often CD/DVD and Internet based, creating new markets and changing traditional print business models. Shorter print runs, document customisation, data and knowledge management and faster print turnaround are features of this emerging industry. Activities include:  

• Digital file, workflow, database and knowledge management; multimedia, prepress and desktop publishing; mailing and distribution.  
• Commercial and job printing, including packaging (paper, cardboard, plastic, metal and other substrates).  
• Publishing and printing newspapers, books, magazines and periodicals, greeting cards, calendars and diaries, posters, labels, signs and displays, advertising material (catalogues, brochures and leaflets), business forms, t-shirts and other fabrics, stamps, cheques and other security products;  
• Manufacture and publishing of audio, CDs, video and data media; and the manufacture of paper stationery items.  

Industry Demographics 

The industry which is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Australia has also strong service features making it a hybrid industry. It is in many ways a truly national industry with a physical presence in every region and electorate of Australia.

Official employment data tends to underestimate the size of the industry as thousands of people are employed in printing and associated activities outside the traditional segments of the industry. The 2006 Census for instance showed that more than 27,000 were employed in printing specific occupations outside traditional printing industry classifications.

Small to medium businesses dominate the industry with 85.0 per cent employing less than 20 people; and only 4 per cent employing more than 100 people.

*For 2008-09 period
Source: ABS